1
Kisha wana wa Israeli wakasafiri na kupanga katika nchi tambarare za Moabu ng'ambo ya pili ya Yordani karibu ya Yeriko.
Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.
2
Na Balaki mwana wa Sipori akaona mambo yote ambayo Israeli wamewatendea Waamori.
Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,
3
Moabu akawaogopa hao watu sana, kwa kuwa walikuwa wengi; Moabu akafadhaika kwa sababu ya wana wa Israeli.
and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.
4
Moabu akawaambia wazee wa Midiani, Sasa jeshi hili la watu litaramba vitu vyote vinavyotuzunguka, kama vile ng'ombe arambavyo majani ya mashamba. Na Balaki, mwana wa Sipori, alikuwa mfalme wa Moabu zamani zile.
So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time,
5
Basi akatuma wajumbe kwa Balaamu mwana wa Beori, hata Pethori, ulio kando ya Mto, mpaka nchi ya wana wa watu wake, kwenda kumwita, akisema, Tazama, kuna watu waliotoka Misri; tazama, wanaufunika uso wa nchi, tena wanakaa kunikabili mimi.
he sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.
6
Basi, njoo wewe, nakusihi unilaanie watu hawa; maana wana nguvu kunishinda mimi. Labda nitawaweza, tupate kuwapiga, niwafukuze watoke katika nchi yangu, kwa maana najua ya kuwa yeye umbarikiye hubarikiwa, na yeye umlaaniye hulaaniwa.
So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”
7
Wazee wa Moabu, na wazee wa Midiani, wakaenda, wakichukua ujira wa uganga mikononi mwao; wakamfikilia Balaamu, wakamwambia maneno ya Balaki.
The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak.
8
Akawaambia, Kaeni hapa usiku huu, nami nitawaletea jawabu kama Bwana atakavyoniambia; wakuu wa Moabu wakakaa na Balaamu.
“Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and I will give you the answer that the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9
Mungu akamjia Balaamu, akasema, Ni watu gani hawa ulio nao pamoja nawe?
Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10
Balaamu akamwambia Mungu, Balaki mwana wa Sipori, mfalme wa Moabu, amewatuma kwangu, akisema,
And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:
11
Tazama, kuna watu waliotoka Misri, wanaufunika uso wa nchi; basi njoo unilaanie watu hawa; labda nitaweza kupigana nao, na kuwafukuza.
‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’”
12
Mungu akamwambia Balaamu, Usiende pamoja nao; wala usiwalaani watu hawa, maana wamebarikiwa.
But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”
13
Balaamu akaondoka asubuhi akawaambia wakuu wa Balaki, Enendeni zenu hata nchi yenu; kwa maana Bwana amekataa kunipa ruhusa niende pamoja nanyi.
So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”
14
Wakuu wakaondoka wakaenda kwa Balaki, wakasema, Balaamu, anakataa kuja pamoja nasi.
And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15
Basi Balaki akatuma wakuu mara ya pili, wengi zaidi, wenye cheo wakubwa kuliko wale wa kwanza.
Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.
16
Wakamfikilia Balaamu, wakamwambia, Balaki mwana wa Sipori asema hivi, Nakusihi, neno lo lote lisikuzuie usinijie;
They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
17
maana nitakufanyizia heshima nyingi sana, na neno lo lote utakaloniomba nitalitenda; basi njoo, nakusihi, unilaanie watu hawa.
for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”
18
Balaamu akajibu akawaambia watumishi wa Balaki, Kama Balaki angenipa nyumba yake imejaa fedha na dhahabu, siwezi kupita mpaka wa neno la Bwana, Mungu wangu, kulipunguza au kuliongeza.
But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.
19
Basi sasa nawasihi, kaeni hapa tena usiku huu, nipate kujua Bwana atakaloniambia zaidi.
So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”
20
Mungu akamjia Balaamu usiku, akamwambia, Kwa kuwa watu hawa wamekuja kukuita, enenda pamoja nao; lakini neno lile nitakalokuambia ndilo utakalolitenda, basi.
That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.”
21
Balaamu akaondoka asubuhi, akatandika punda wake, akaenda pamoja na wakuu wa Moabu.
So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
22
Hasira ya Mungu ikawaka kwa sababu alikwenda; malaika wa Bwana akajiweka njiani, ili kumpinga. Basi alikuwa amepanda punda wake, na watumishi wake wawili walikuwa pamoja naye.
Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23
Na yule punda akamwona malaika wa Bwana amesimama njiani, na upanga wake mkononi mwake amekwisha kuufuta; punda akageuka upande ili kuiacha njia, akaingia shambani. Balaamu akampiga punda ili kumrejeza njiani.
When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path.
24
Kisha malaika wa Bwana akasimama mahali penye bonde, katikati ya mashamba ya mizabibu, tena penye kitalu upande huu na kitalu upande huu.
Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side.
25
Yule punda akamwona malaika wa Bwana, akajisonga ukutani, akamseta Balaamu mguu wake, basi akampiga mara ya pili.
And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her once again.
26
Malaika wa Bwana akaendelea mbele akasimama mahali pembamba sana, hapakuwa na nafasi ya kugeukia mkono wa kuume, wala mkono wa kushoto.
And the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left.
27
Yule punda akamwona malaika wa Bwana, akajilaza chini ya Balaamu; hasira yake Balaamu ikawaka, akampiga punda kwa fimbo yake.
When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff.
28
Bwana akakifunua kinywa cha yule punda, naye akamwambia Balaamu, Nimekutenda nini, hata ukanipiga mara tatu hizi?
Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”
29
Balaamu akamwambia punda; Kwa sababu umenidhihaki; laiti ningekuwa na upanga mkononi mwangu ningekuua sasa hivi.
Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”
30
Yule punda akamwambia Balaamu, Je! Mimi si punda wako, nawe umenipanda maisha yako yote hata leo? Nimezoea kukutenda hayo? Akasema, La!
But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he replied.
31
Ndipo Bwana akafunua macho ya Balaamu akamwona malaika wa Bwana amesimama njiani, ana upanga mkononi mwake, umekwisha kufutwa naye akainama kichwa, akaanguka kifudifudi.
Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.
32
Malaika wa Bwana akamwambia, Mbona umempiga punda wako mara tatu hizi? Tazama mimi nimekuja ili kukupinga, kwa sababu njia yako imepotoka mbele zangu,
The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse before me.
33
punda akaniona, akageuka upande mbele zangu mara tatu hizi; kama asingejiepusha nami, bila shaka ningalikuua wewe, nikamwacha yeye hai.
The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.”
34
Balaamu akamwambia malaika wa Bwana, Nimefanya dhambi; maana sikujua ya kuwa wewe umesimama njiani ili kunipinga; basi sasa, ikiwa umechukizwa, nitarudi tena.
“I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”
35
Malaika wa Bwana akamwambia Balaamu Enenda pamoja na watu hawa, lakini neno lile nitakalokuambia, ndilo utakalosema. Basi Balaamu akaenda pamoja na wakuu wa Balaki.
But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36
Balaki aliposikia ya kuwa Balaamu amefika, akatoka kwenda kumlaki, mpaka Mji wa Moabu, ulioko katika mpaka wa Arnoni, ulioko katika upande wa mwisho wa mpaka huo.
When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory.
37
Balaki akamwambia Balaamu, Je! Mimi sikutuma watu kwako kwa bidii ili kukuita? Mbona hukunijia? Je! Siwezi mimi kukufanyizia heshima nyingi?
And he said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to reward you richly?”
38
Balaamu akamwambia Balaki, Tazama, nimekujia. Je! Mimi sasa nina uwezo wo wote kusema neno lo lote? Neno lile Mungu atakalolitia kinywani mwangu, ndilo nitakalolisema.
“See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”
39
Balaamu akaenda pamoja na Balaki wakafika Kiriath-husothi.
So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
40
Balaki akachinja ng'ombe, na kondoo, akampelekea Balaamu na wale wakuu waliokuwa pamoja naye.
Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.
41
Ikawa asubuhi Balaki akamchukua Balaamu, akampandisha hata mahali pa juu pa Baali; na kutoka huko akawaona watu, hata pande zao za mwisho.
The next morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.